‘Tush Push’ or ‘Brotherly Love’ — whatever you call it, it’s Philly’s money play
It’s the most-effective, controversial — and softest-sounding — play right now in the ultra-violent NFL.
The ”tush push.”
For the last couple of seasons, including the Super Bowl last season, when their offense has needed a yard or less, the Eagles have done a quarterback sneak. But it’s not any run-of-the-mill sneak.
They use just about everyone for Philadelphia back to Ben Franklin to push quarterback Jalen Hurts from behind and the side following All-Pro center Jason Kelce across the line to gain, or goal line for a short-yardage score.
It’s been nearly unstoppable. Entering their game Monday night against the Seahawks (6-7) at Lumen Field, the Eagles (10-3) have a success rate of 92% (28 of 30 tries) this season on the “tush push” this season, also known as the “Brotherly Shove.” Those numbers are according to Paul Domowitch of The 33rd Team NFL analysis website. Domowitch found Hurts is 27 for 29 doing it. Backup QB Marcus Mariota is 1 for 1.
Nine of Hurts’ 12 rushing touchdowns have been tush pushes behind Kelce and with tight ends, wide receivers, running backs, you name it pushing the quarterback into the end zone.
Last season it succeeded 93.5% of the time. Philadelphia used it six times in last season’s Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, and score two touchdowns with it.
“When I first realized how dominant of a play it was a year ago, I went right into the mode of, ‘This could change the game,’” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said.
Carroll admires Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and his staff’s commitment to the “tush push,” and it’s rugby-like qualities. Carroll has incorporated rugby into the Seahawks’ play, in roll-type tackling.
He calls the play “almost unstoppable.”
“It’s something to be challenged though, because it’s a different phase of the game. It doesn’t mean that it’s wrong. It’s just new. it’s just innovative and all of that. They’ve done a great job to get that done, and they’ve crossed over to the world of rugby. It’s a cool compliment to that beautiful game, as well.
“But we’re in it. We’ve got to compete with it and try to figure it out.”
Hurts is questionable to play because of an illness. The Eagles flew him separately from his teammates Sunday to Seattle, to prevent them from possibly getting what Hurts has.
All week, Carroll has been consulting Leonard Williams.
The defensive tackle is the one player who knows the Eagles, Kelce, Hurts and the “tush push” more than any other in the Seahawks’ locker room. He played Philadelphia twice as a member of the Giants, until New York traded him to Seattle in late October.
Monday night, Williams and the Seahawks play a nearly must-win game against the Eagles to stay in realistic playoff contention. Seattle is going to have to defend the “tush push.”
Or will it?
That’s what Williams says he’s learned the key is to stopping the “tush push.”
“The way you defend it is you don’t let them get into short yardage,” Williams said, “because when they get into short yardage it’s...I mean, everyone can see the percentages.”
The Eagles are 9 for 9 on fourth and 1 using it. They are 11 for 12 using it on third and 1.
Philadelphia has been so successful there’s been talk around the NFL about the league making the play illegal. It was talked about this week at league meetings. Commissioner Roger Goodell said he and the league haven’t made a final decision on the play, but likely will by March in offseason meetings with team owners.
“I wouldn’t say it’s impossible,” Williams said, “but it’s close to impossible to stop.
“So I think the best way to prevent it is to not get in that situation.”
That means Seattle’s defense, which has allowed 100 points and more than 1,300 yards in the last three games, must beat Philadelphia’s offense on first and second downs to create third and long for the Eagles.
Williams said he with the Giants and other Eagles opponents have tried just about everything to stop the “tush push,” and have failed.
So if the Seahawks also fail to keep Philadelphia out of third or fourth and 1, what can they do to combat the “tush push.”
“You see guys lunge their bodies (into the pile),” Williams said. “You are leaving your feet off the ground. So then, what the O-line and the offense does a good job of is they keep their feet in the ground and they are churning their feet (forward).
“I think as a defense, we have to match that. We have to keep our cleats in the ground and keep your feet running.”
The football adage as old as grass for line play says “low man wins.”
Williams says low man loses against Philly’s tush push.
“When the D-line goes low, the O-line kind of just pins you on the ground,” he said. “And they just go over the top (with Hurts). All you need is that little bit of stretch (of the ball).
“Sometimes it works if the linebackers can meet the quarterback at the top.”
That is the reason some that can’t stop the play are using to try to get the NFL to outlaw it: in the name of player safety and to avoid head-on collisions of defenders trying to time their leap to meet Hurts at our behind the line on the tush push.
You might think Williams would be for making the play illegal, since doing so would mean he would no longer have to try to stop a play he says is nearly impossible to stop.
Well...
“I don’t know why it should be outlawed, to be honest,” Williams said. “Everyone has a fair chance of doing it, in that situation.”
Other teams have tried to mimic Philadelphia with it. None have had near the success of the Eagles.
“I think we’ve practiced it a lot just because the teams over the years saw how successful it’s been (with the Eagles), so you saw other teams try to do it,” Seahawks six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “But nobody has been able to do it as well as they do it.”
This story was originally published December 18, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
